Announcements and upcoming events:

Gun 2 Seminar Saturday May 7th
2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Review Gun 1, advanced gun threats, 3rd party protection.
Prerequisite: Gun 1

Fight 2 Seminar: Saturday May 14th
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Chinese Boxing Seminar Saturday May 21st
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Krav Maga for Kids
Our Krav Maga for Kids program is starting June 20th! The registration deadline is June 1st. Classes will be Monday and Wednesday at 4:30 pm, and Saturdays at 10 am. Get your kids started early on developing the physical and mental skills for survival and health that will support them the rest of their lives.

Student Surveys now Available

If you would like to see classes offered in times that are not currently covered, please take the time to fill out a survey at the front desk, or send us an e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . We have had some interest in a mid-day Level 3 class, but not enough to place it on the schedule yet. We had requests for a later yoga class and we added one at 8 pm on Thursday, so keep your suggestions coming!

Interview with Randy Hetrick, creator of the TRX System

We first met Randy when he needed a nice brightly lit studio for a photo shoot, and we learned that he was the inventor of a unique exercise tool, the Total-body Resistance Exercise (TRX) System. It sounded like an interesting training option, and as we learned more, we decided to expose ourselves and our students to this innovative new method of functional strength training. I tried a short class last week, and was immediately impressed with the challenging workout and the overall concept.

I asked Randy how he came to the idea for the TRX, and whether it had anything to do with the 14 years he spent rising to command a squadron in the most elite unit of the Navy Seal Teams. He gave me the brief background of what was truly an invention of necessity, and explained how the current product evolved.

SEALs, Randy told me, are perpetually on the road-whether for training or actual operations. Units deploy to hotspots and then wait long periods for diplomacy played itself out-often times without requiring their intervention. Meanwhile, these groups of superbly conditioned athletes: climbers, runners, swimmers, and general fighters are forced to stand-by, with no access to training equipment and yet a clear requirement to remain in top physical condition. Out of this environment was born Randy's first simple Body-weight training device. It was initially geared toward the climbers, but as more SEALs became exposed to it, its modifications and uses rapidly expanded. As Randy explained, "When you have a bunch or world class athletes with strong opinions testing your idea, you get the best feedback possible-even if not always in the friendliest way!"

After leaving the service, Randy attended Stanford business school where he continued to refine the design of his product and enhance its features. There he created the strategy and pooled expertise for the company, which initially rolled out in summer 2004 selling the TRX as a travelling exercise tool. The timing fit well with recent advancements in exercise and sports training that now emphasize core training and functional strength. Personal trainers became a big part of the initial growth, as they appreciate the variety and ease of use the TRX provides their clients. It is adaptable to doors, overhead supports, or even trees, allowing users to access professional quality fitness anywhere.

It is often difficult for members to add strength training into their routines. Whether because of time constraints, a reluctance to fund multiple memberships, or the expense of making a substantial investment in equipment, integrating quality strength training is seldom easy. The TRX is a great solution. It is very affordable and works the entire body: combining core stabilization, functional strength, stability, and proprioception all into a single station.

What's proprioception? From dictionary.com: "The ability to sense the position and location and orientation and movement of the body and its parts." Sounds pretty darn useful to me, don't you agree? Especially in a dynamic situation like a street fight, where unexpected movements and forces are being applied, the physical capability that the TRX builds is highly beneficial.

Starting in May, Krav Maga San Francisco members can check out the TRX System for themselves at zero risk. A pilot program of TRX group training classes begins Tuesday, May 3rd. The introductory program will consist of four 30-minute classes per week. This introduction will give students a great tast of what TRX body suspension training is all about and will provide a warm up for the KM class to follow. Beginning in June, the full-length classes will begin, offering a complete one-hour functional strength and cardio training session. TRX Combat, designed specifically for Krav Maga, will be offered four times weekly.

Introductory Class Schedule for May:
Tuesday and Thursday 7:00 - 7:30 am
Tuesday and Thursday 5:30 - 6:00 pm

For more info on the TRX:www.trxsystem.com